I pushed the button so Control could hear me, too, and said, “I feel something off to the right. Not just something. It’s big. Huge… and… dark. Bad intentions.” I had goose bumps and I rubbed my arms, though it didn’t help.
“How far?” Randall asked.
“I have no way to gauge. If it’s far away though, the power they’re putting out has to be massive, so I kind of hope it’s close.”
“Head towards it,” the voice in my ear instructed. “No one else is sensing this one, but I have two teams headed your way. Find the activity, but do not engage.”
We turned right and walked at my pace, this time.
With every step closer the dread grew in my heart. Cora touched my arm at one point, and I held her hand as we walked. It helped, but what I felt in front of us could only be described as evil.
When the supernaturals could apparently hear or sense whoever we were headed towards, Randall motioned for me to ride Cora as he told me telepathically, she can walk through the underbrush quieter than you.
I heard Aaron in my earpiece, issuing orders for more teams to head our way, but everything fell away when we topped a hill and I saw seven people, one of whom appeared to be stretched out like a human sacrifice. She was alive, but her skin was carved up over her forehead and chest. She was naked and had what appeared to be a huge piece of cloth in her mouth, and she was crying and hopelessly trying to scream.
I knew the vampires could transmit silently to Abbott, and I looked at Kieran who nodded to me to let me know he’d reported in.
Meanwhile, I broadcast to both Cora and Randall.
She’s supposed to be a human sacrifice. We have to stop them.
Randall answered, not until backup arrives.
I levitated away from Cora’s back and pulled in more energy than I’ve ever done on my own. I pulled in so much it hurt, and kept drawing it in as I blasted my red laser towards them.
Unfortunately, they were in a circle my laser couldn’t penetrate. I didn’t know a circle could keep me out, but this was the second time I’d run into a situation that could defeat my laser, so I shut it down quickly to be sure they didn’t begin to drain me as Xaephan had.
The men performing the ritual looked up, saw us, and looked at each other.
I could clearly see their intention was to move faster with their ritual — not to fight us or try to flee, but to finish before we could reach them.
Apparently, they were pretty sure their circle could keep us out.
I didn’t know if it could or not. I refocused my eyes, as if I were viewing someone’s aura, and could clearly see the dome around them.
Randall spoke into the mic, so I heard him in real life, and a split second later electronically. “Kirsten engaged with the target and her laser was unsuccessful. What’s our ETA for backup?”
“Twenty seconds,” came into my ear, and I lifted my hand and created my sword of light, concentrating on putting all of the colors into it so it would be as white as possible. I ran forward, jabbed it into the circle, and froze in shock when it worked.
The man I was closest to realized the instant it went down, and we were only a few feet away from each other. He turned and I saw blood on his face, forming a grotesque mask, and I realized it was the blood of the virgin they had tied on the ground.
His arms reached towards me and I was a split second too late blocking, so he grabbed my arms, holding them to my body. Instead of resorting to martial arts, I focused my power and concentrated on putting as much heat and energy into his head, as fast as I could, when someone charged us and knocked him away from me.
I’m not a hundred percent sure of the play-by-play after that. Other groups began arriving and it soon became clear the people we were fighting weren’t human. Not only that, but my exploding brain thing wasn’t working on them, because they figured out what I was doing and somehow dissipated the energy as fast as I could put it in. I couldn’t create my quarterstaff of light, or even a knife, because there was too much of a chance I’d hurt one of our guys.
With nothing to offer and no way to help fight, I levitated straight up to get out of the way.
As most of the fighting moved away from the woman tied on the ground, I made my way down, created a knife to quickly cut her free, dissipated the knife, and then struggled to levitate us both back up into the air and away from the fighting. I found a nice strong tree branch about forty feet up, and we sat and watched. She was nearly catatonic at first, frozen with terror, so I put my arms around her to be sure she didn’t fall.
It looked like all of the wolves shifted, and Nathan and a few of his people shifted as well. Within perhaps five minutes four of the bad guys were dead, and the other two badly injured and restrained with silver twine.
As the battle went on below us, the girl’s breathing became more and more ragged and she started to move and jerk. By the time it was over she was in major panic mode, so I levitated her to Abbott. He immediately saw the problem, looked into her eyes, and she chilled. I hoped they could wipe her memory later, so she wouldn’t remember any of this. She couldn’t be more than fifteen or sixteen.
“We need to leave the area,” Aaron barked. “Law enforcement will be here soon and I’d rather not complicate things with them.”
Somehow, I ended up on Randall’s back this time as we ran through the woods. Where Kieran had been cool like Abbott, Randall was hot, much warmer than my body temperature.
He also moved different, though I wasn’t sure how to explain it. Kieran ran like a superfast human, while Randall’s run was smoother, fluid.
I levitated off him as we neared the vehicles, thanking him as I looked for the girl. Someone needed to be sure she was taken care of.
Nathan had her, and assured me one of the vampires would wipe her memory of the night. “We’ll replace it with a less traumatic version, because we have to account for the cuts on her forehead and chest, but we’ll make her believe she fought back and escaped.”
I didn’t like it, but couldn’t come up with a better idea. Nathan’s face softened a little and he said, “I’m going to hand her off to one of my people. He was born human and is close to his sister’s kids. One of his nieces is the same age as this girl. He’ll take care of her.”
Satisfied, I nodded and turned to find Aaron, as I wanted to know what the men were, and what would happen to them.
Abbott found me and herded me towards his car, though. “I drove so we could leave together, my darling.”
I tried to stop, but he kept me moving. “I’m going back to Drake,” I insisted. “I need to get some answers.”
“Yes, that’s where we’re going.”
I stopped fighting him, and when we got to the car I noticed his arm was mangled. I tried to get a closer look but he pulled it back and said, “I’ll heal as soon as I feed. One of my flock is headed to the Drake offices. I’m more concerned with making sure you’re okay at the moment.”
“I’m fine, which means I’m driving.”
He looked at me a few seconds and handed me his keys, saying, “I’m fine, but we’ll get there faster if we can skip the arguing.”
I wasn’t sure if he really needed me to drive, or was only letting me so we could leave faster, but decided it didn’t matter at the moment.
“Aaron has a team taking the dead to an authoritative party,” Abbott told me as I drove, “and it happens he has an incinerator.”
“I heard someone saying the European faction would need to know?”
I glanced at him to see his face grim, and it was a few seconds before he merely said, “Yes, they will.”
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I will be. I smell them on you. Tell me what they did to you.”
It was an order, but I let it go and answered. “One of them grabbed me, but I got away before he did anything. My arm will probably be bruised, but once I saw I couldn’t help with the fighting, I levitated up and out of the way.”
He seemed
to be in pain, and I made a quick decision. “I know I said no biting, but if you need blood, I can....”
“I appreciate the offer, Carena. I’m touched. However, if I ever get to drink from you then the first time will be for pleasure and not need. I can wait until we reach the Drake offices.”
I was a little relieved, actually, but also a little disappointed. That’s me, a huge contradiction even in my own head.
I didn’t know what to say, so I asked, “That was the other race of vampires, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“They’re taking the dead to Bran so he can notify the European group?”
“Yes.”
“I once heard something about an Interspecies Council, is that what this European group is?”
“Yes, which is the same group deciding what to do about you. However, they don’t like for humans to know of them, so it’s best if you don’t mention them to anyone.”
I was about to ask him if he understood the idiocy of what he was saying, but he beat me to the punch. “Don’t expect it to make sense. They know you’re aware of them, but can ignore that annoying little fact as long as you don’t talk about knowing of them.”
I shook my head and said, “I want to know what we find out from the two they kept alive, but I’m wondering if I really want to be present to see whatever has to be done to them to make them talk.”
“You likely won’t be allowed in. The wolves and lions won’t be, either,” he said, probably trying to let me know it wasn’t because I’m human. “This is vampire business. Aaron will be in there with us, of course — he owns the building, and, well, he’s old and can know about the inner workings of… It’s hard to explain, but you’ll probably be with the lions and wolves while we interrogate.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
As Abbott predicted, I was shuttled off with the shifters into the old library, now a large meeting room, while the vampires and Aaron went to the gymnasium with the survivors. It sounded as if they planned to teleconference Mordecai in, and I made a note to insist I get to speak to him tomorrow, even if only by phone.
As I entered the meeting room, Nathan pulled me to the back of the room, to one of the sofas, and before I realized what was about to happen, I fell apart.
I totally went girly-girl, complete with tears and snot while practically hyperventilating, in front of a whole bunch of wolves and lions. And Randall.
There was nothing I could do to stop it or postpone it, the feelings welled up and came out, and I was merely along for the ride.
Nathan pulled me to him and I cried into his chest while he held me. He’d seen Aaron do this a few times, though I’d been mortified when he’d seen it.
Now? I was grateful he’d known to get me to the back of the room, at least. His arms were a haven, and I let him hold and comfort me, and shield me from the rest of the room.
At first, all I could do was cry, but as the emotions worked their way through I became aware of the others, many of whom were standing and watching. Some were obviously disgusted by the crying human female, while others were alarmed I was falling apart.
Nathan told them, “She’ll be fine. She can hold it together during any crisis, she just falls apart once it’s over.” A pause and then, “No, she doesn’t need anyone to soothe her or cheer her up, she just needs to have a good cry and then she’ll be okay. Though, some tissue would be nice, so she can blow her nose.”
And, of course, this is when the Big European Dudes decided to arrive. They just... appeared. Out of thin air.
Everyone in the room went into attack mode, and Nathan unceremoniously spilled me onto the sofa as he stood, saying, “Myrddin, Apollonius, what a surprise. News travels fast in this age, does it not?”
The wolves stood down a tiny bit, but were still obviously on guard as they watched Nathan and the two new people.
One of the new men responded, “It does. We’re aware you were coming with a party this weekend to speak on behalf of your human, but considering the events of tonight it seemed expedient to come ourselves and speak with the surviving Celrau, and while we’re here we can speak with your human personally.”
Nathan still looked relaxed, not on guard like he might have to fight at any moment, but I was about as tense as I could get.
“I must say,” Nathan told them. “I’m relieved it’s the two of you who’ve come, my friends. Aaron will be pleased to see you as well. Let me introduce you to Kirsten, and then I’ll let Aaron know you’re here. I’m assuming he has the gymnasium warded so you couldn’t get in?”
“Yes, he does,” the European man said with what I thought was possibly an Italian accent.
Someone had brought me tissues by now and I needed to blow my nose, but decided not to in front of everyone. I wiped and sniffled as best I could, tried to compose myself, and stood to walk towards them.
“Kirsten has been engaging in a very human activity, but it looks like her meltdown is over.” He took my hand and said, “Myrddin, Apollonius, I would like you to meet Kirsten O’Shea. Kirsten, this is Myrddin and Apollonius. No last names necessary.”
Nathan had my hand so I couldn’t offer to shake theirs. Perhaps it wasn’t done, so he was attempting to keep me from trying? I didn’t know what to do, but I figured a welcome would be safe. “Gentlemen, welcome to our fair city.”
The one I thought was Myrddin turned to Nathan and said, “If you can get Apollonius in with Aaron then I will remain here and speak with your human.”
He’d snubbed me, and then referred to me by my race again, and my temper made an appearance. I checked it, but then decided to speak anyway, though I didn’t snap at him. Honest, my voice was as pleasant as I could make it as I said, “Kirsten. My name is Kirsten.”
Nathan shot me a warning look, picked up a phone to call Aaron, and after a few words into the phone gave Apollonius directions to the gymnasium, saying Aaron would drop the wards long enough for him to enter. We watched Apollonius leave, and Nathan turned to the other man. “Myrddin, I’d like to move our conversation into another room, and bring our wolf Alpha with us as well, if it’s amenable to you.”
“Certainly.”
So the four of us went into Nathan’s office and sat in his seating area like civilized people, but it didn’t feel very civilized.
Unsure of where I stood, I directed my thoughts to Randall.
What’s going on? Any idea?
Best not to talk like this, he might sense what we’re doing.
I didn’t respond back. If Randall said not to, then no need in doing it any more than I already had. I reinforced my shields, just in case.
Myrddin looked to me and said, “Miss O’Shea, it seems you’ve formed many powerful alliances in your short life.”
“I’d rather think of it as making friends, but yes, I suppose your statement is accurate.”
“Please, tell me what happened tonight.”
I did, and when I reached the fight I explained that, with the few metaphysical weapons available to me, and with the way the fight happened, there was nothing I could do to help. I explained how I levitated up to get out of the way so no one would have to rescue me again, and then how I’d gone back down to release the girl and then levitate her back up with me.
“Tell me about your metaphysical weapons.”
“I have the light sword, though I’m not that good with it. Since I have skills with a quarterstaff, I’m much more comfortable with a quarterstaff of light than I am a sword. Either way, neither could be used in the fight because there was too much danger of hurting someone on our side. I also have this thing where I can project heat into someone’s head and it, well, it explodes. But that didn’t work on these vampires — one of them grabbed me while I was trying it, and it’s likely I’d be dead if Kieran and Nathan hadn’t come to my rescue. I also have a laser thing, but I couldn’t use it during the fight for the same reason I couldn’t use the sword or quarterstaff. Plus, their circle blocked my laser, so I didn�
��t know if I could hurt them with it.”
“Tell me what happened the night you killed Surtr.”
I told him, including the fact I’d have lost my arm if Abbott hadn’t made arrangements for me to have some of Bran’s blood.
“Who taught you these skills?”
I wasn’t sure how to refuse to answer, but thankfully, Nathan interceded and told him, “Myrddin, she doesn’t speak to anyone about that. I believe it involves secrets not hers to tell.”
Myrddin’s look told me I’d need to verify Nathan’s words, so I told him, “I’ll tell you what I can, but Nathan is correct and it’s a subject I steer clear of — even the parts that don’t violate any secrets I’m honor bound to keep have always seemed best kept to myself. I will tell you those parts now, the parts that do not involve secrets, but it will be a short version.”
He nodded, so I launched into my story. “In my late teens and early twenties I was a shallow, materialistic female. I was a model and a ballet dancer, and when an injury ended my dance career I started reading books. When fiction grew old I moved to nonfiction, and before long I was reading about metaphysical subjects. A year or so into it I began looking for ways to gain experiential knowledge of the things I’d read about. I was invited into Native American ceremony, and I attended workshops where I learned much about the energy that’s all around us. I learned to cure headaches by manipulating these energies, and then figured out a few months later I could also give people headaches. I wasn’t interested in doing so, but the knowledge was a big eye opener. For every way to heal, you can cause harm.” I shook my head and got off my tangent to say, “I eventually ended up sitting on a mountain, meditating with monks.”
He looked bored, so I tried to speed the story along. “During the course of all of this I managed to heal my own foot, and I could walk again by this time. I still couldn’t run, and I knew I’d never again go en pointe, but I had an otherwise active lifestyle back and I began taking some Martial Arts instruction.” I neglected to mention it was the monks who taught me Martial Arts. It was best they didn’t know that part of it — Mordecai had figured it out, but I didn’t want Myrddin to know.
Only Human (Kirsten O'Shea Book 1) Page 38